In all honesty, I have not been looking forward to this film at all. I was first skeptical at the very idea of rebooting the revered 1995 Jumanji, and then the trailers did nothing to ease my concerns due to the seemingly forced humor. It just seemed like a needless reboot produced and distributed for the purposes of making a quick buck.
However, I must report that I was pleasantly surprised by everything director Jake Kasdan had in store for audiences! I'd liken it to my experience watching last year's Ghostbusters, where I went in with enormously low expectations to discover a surprisingly enjoyable film instead of the cringeworthy mess I had imagined. Perhaps, it was because I had low expectations that I wound up enjoying either, but I'd like to think they're both entertaining action-comedies.
This is not to say Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle surpasses the original by any stretch of the imagination (except perhaps in regards to effects), but it puts an interesting spin on the premise of Chris Van Allsburg's classic children's book. One reason I think the original is better, in actuality, is that it feels like a generational family-friendly classic that will be probably passed down for quite some time. I simply can't imagine parents sitting their kids down to introduce them to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle twenty years from now, but who knows, my generation is kinda weird.
I also distinctly remember an outpouring of internet users making a fuss over Karen Gillan's skimpy outfit in a jungle setting making no sense, because what's the internet without complaining? Well, this is addressed fairly quickly with the rationale female video game characters are typically designed that way. Just look at Laura Croft.
Kasdan also handles the action sequences quite well, considering it's his first time to direct an action film. The action's fun and over-the-top, just like it would be in an actual video game. Would any of it be up for contention alongside the best action sequences of the year? No, but they're all entertaining to watch. One weakness would be that some of the CG doesn't quite look authentic (namely the animals), but I suppose one could reason that was purposely done because of budgetary restraints and to match the video game setting. Plus, this is Jumanji... Not War for the Planet of the Apes... I'm not expecting ground-breaking, realistic visual effects from every single frame of this film.
As for the core cast, they're truly the ones who made it all work. It was incredibly entertaining to watch Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black play against their traditional type-casting. Watching "The Rock" and Karen Gillan play awkward, insecure teenagers trapped inside practically perfect adult bodies was amusing to say the least. Though, it's Jack Black who stands out most as a superficial, social media obsessed teenage girl. I'd provide examples of the way his character's written, but I'd rather not giveaway the funniest moment of the movie that hasn't been abused in the trailers already. Kevin Hart, on the other hand, continues to seemingly act like himself and just run around screaming as the stock, slapstick comedian or whatever. That is admittedly one of the more grating elements of the film, but you probably won't have a problem with it if you like Kevin Hart in other movies.
Alex Wolff, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, and Morgan Turner play the real-life versions of the stereotyped teenagers characters a little on the nose, to the point that the high school bookends feel rather cliché, but they're all serviceable when used. You won't leave saying these four are the breakout stars of the movie because they're not in it all too much, but they're not grating either (which could have easily become a problem).
Nick Jonas is also in the film, and he's... fine, I guess... His character's probably the least interesting of the bunch because audiences are introduced to him quickly, and don't spend nearly as much time with him, but he's not really a hinderance or an asset. It seems like he's there mostly to have teenage girls swoon.
The one weak link would be Bobby Cannavale as the film's antagonist, Van Pelt (who's realy not at all like the version from the 1995 original). It's largely due to the screenplay, but Cannavale doesn't really do much of anything and his motivations are unclear. He kinda just has a menacing, foreboding presence and creeps you out because bugs are crawling all over him while he remains completely unbothered. He's just another forgettable, two-dimensional villain.
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